Coleophora curviphallica Baldizzone 2021, sp. nov.

Coleophora curviphallica, sp. nov.

(Figs. 11, 62–64)

Holotype ♂ (GP Bldz 14994) “ RSA, North. Cape | Kamieskroon | Farm Windhoek | 16.X.2007, leg. W. Mey ”, [S 30°11.103’ E 17°56.308’, 930 m], in coll. MfN.

Diagnosis. Small species of light appearance, with light brown forewing. The male genitalia are different from those of all known Afrotropical species in the stubby cucullus, rounded lateral expansion of the sacculus, and the long arcuate phallotheca which somewhat resembles that of some palearctic species, for example C. pilion (Falkovitsh, 1992) of southern Russia and Turkmenistan, from which it differs in other aspects of the genitalia.

Description. Wingspan 11 mm. Head white, frons light ochre tinged. Antenna: scape brown without erect scales; flagellum ringed light brown and dirty white. Labial palpus light ochre on outer side, mixed white and light ochre on inner side; third article about half length of second. Proboscis very short, normal shaped. Thorax and tegula white. Forewing light brown, white along costa up to 3/4, with dirty white streak along lower edge of cell and anal fold; streaks not sharp in appearance but suffused and not very evident; some brown scales scattered on wing; costal cilia white in terminal part of white band, then brown in apical part; costal cilia light grey. Hindwing and cilia light grey. Abdomen greyish brown.

Abdominal structures (Fig. 64): No posterior lateral struts. Transverse strut almost straight, thicker proximal edge in central part and thinner distal edge in central part and dilated in an oval shape on outer edges. Tergal disks (3 rd tergite) length about 3 times their width, covered with about 20–25 small spines.

Male genitalia (Figs. 62–63): Gnathos knob globular. Tegumen short and stocky, constricted in middle; pedunculus dilated on outside. Transtilla in shape of a ribbon, curved and rounded at apex. Valvula large, with rounded ventral edge and distal part expanded close to ventral half of cucullus. Cucullus short, larger at base. Sacculus curved and thick on ventral edge, expanded and rounded on lateral edge, with small, inconspicuous protuberance at dorsal angle. Phallotheca very long and thin, arched with one thicker and slightly longer juxta rod with curved thorn-like apex, other rod thinner with tip shorter and straight. No cornuti.

Female genitalia: Unknown.

Bionomy. The early stages and the foodplant are unknown.

Distribution. RSA (prov. Northern Cape).

Etymology. From Latin curvus [-a, -um] = curved, and phallus = penis. Due to the shape of phallotheca.